Stamping device.



J. T. QUIGLEY.

STAMPING DEVICE.

APPLXCATION'FILED 58.19. 1912.

1,222,029. Patented Apr. 10,1917.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. QUIGLEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO COSTMETER COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

STAMPING DEVICE.

Application filed February 19, 1912.

To all 'wkom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. QUIGLEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to stamping devices which are operated by hand to impress the data thereon upon a recording surface.

The object of the invention is to provide a. hand operated stamping device in which the type or dies are always pressed against the recording surface with the same pressure.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for simultaneously imprinting the data on the recording surface and producing a transverse line of perforation on the surface.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, which, with the foregoing, will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form or embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The novelty of the invention will be included in the claims sueceeding said description. From this it will be apparent that I do not restrict myself to the showing made by such drawings and description as I may adopt many variations within the scope of my invention as expressed in said claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of the stamping device of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the device,

Fig. 3 is a view of a printing key adapted to be used with the device.

The stamping device of my invention is particularly adapted to be used in connection with a time cost meter of my invention, wherein certain data is to be printed upon a tape, but it may be used in time clocks, time stamps or other mechanisms where the stamping device is operated by hand. Heretofore, as far as I am aware, the impression made by the stamp on the printing surface has to some extent depended upon the pressure exerted by the operative. This pressure is often less than or in excess of the required pressure to produce an imprint, with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917.

Serial No. 678,676.

result that the records are often illegible. To overcome this objection I have provided a device in which the pressure upon the printing surface is the same at each operation, thereby insuring a perfect record.

In the drawings I have shown the device of my invention arranged on a casing 2 havmg an aperture 3 therein, under which is arranged a platen 4c. The tape or other recording surface is arranged on the platen under the aperture and is preferably arranged to move longitudinally of the aperture.

The particular machine herein shown is intended to record the time costs of different operations, the tape 5 being fed by any suitable clockwork mechanism (not herein shown) beneath the aperture 3 at a uniform rate which is proportional both to elapsing time and the time cost rate of the particular operation which is being performed. Under these conditions the operative at the beginning of the operation establishes a datum line upon the traveling tape by perforating or otherwise marking the same and also preferably at the same time prints or otherwise marks upon the tape identifying characters which will convey the necessary information as to the identification of the job or operation being performed. At the close of the operation, whether that be several hours or only a few minutes later, the tape is similarly marked so that the length of tape between the two perforations or other markings may, after the tape has been removed from the machine, be applied to a suitable scale representing the cost in units of money of the operation performed.

The stamping device consists of a member having arms 6 joined together at one end by a head 7 and pivotally mounted intermediate the ends on the bracket 8 attached to the casing 2. The arms 6 are provided with cam surfaces arranged to one side of the pivotal point 9, the cam surfaces consisting of an elevation. 12 with depressions 13 on each side.

The head 7 is held normally raised by means of the coiled springs 14, inclosed in casings 15, which springs bear downward on 1 tion 12 is a lever 17 provided with a handle 18. The lever is provided on opposite sides with rollers 19 engaging the cam surfaces 011 the arms, the rollers being so arranged that when they bear in the depressions 13 the head is in the raised position and when the lever is moved, the rollers passing over the elevations 12 depress the head and cause the data to be imprinted upon the tape or recording surface.

The head 7 is provided with a slot, at one end of which is placed an impression die 21 bearing upon its printing surface a character which identifies the machine. Each operative who is to use the machine is provided. with a key 22 having dies thereon representing characters by which the particular operative is identified. This key is inserted in the slot in the head before the device is operated so that the record caused by the stamping operation gives the number of the machine and identifies the person using it. The key is held in place in the head by means of the pin 20 which engages an elongated hole in the key.

Other data than this maybe placed upon the die 21 or the key 22 as desired and I do not desire to limit myself to the particular marks mentioned. The aperture 8 in the casing is of sufficient area to expose a portion of the record tape or other surface, so that other data may be entered thereon as desired.

The complete printing operation is performed by the movement of the lever in one direction without any retractile movement, and may be performed by the movement of the lever in either direction, depending upon its position of rest.

Arranged in the platen l directly below' the line of the slot in the head is a yielding printing surface formed of a strip of rubber 28, arranged above a spring The rubber held in place by flanges on the platen engaging the metal backin strip 25. F or each operation of the handle 18 in either direction the printing dies are moved downward the same distance, thereby producing the same impression. Between the tape and the printing dies I arrange an inked or carbon ribbon 31 for producing the imprint upon the tape.

Mounted on the casing adjacent the head 7 is a frame 26 in which is arranged a vertically movable blade 27 which is provided with teeth on its lower edge that ope etc to produce a transverse perforation in the tape. The platen is provided with a slot 28 into which the teeth project to produce the perforation. The blade 27 is operably connected to the head 7 by the pins 29 so that the perforation is formed simultaneously with the printing operation. The perforator blade 27 is preferably of such width that the perforation extends across the width of the tape, thereby allowing the tape to be readily separated at the perforation.

T claim:

1. A stamping device comprising a member pivoted to a support intermediate its ends, one end of said member being slotted to receive printing dies, a spring engaging the member operating to hold the printing dies normally elevated, a cam surface on said member, and a lever provided with a roller engaging said surface, the central part of said surface being farthest removed from the fulcrum of the lever.

2. A stamping device comprising a hand operated lever, a spring pressed rocking member having a cam surface, the ends of which are equidistant from the fulcrum of the lever and the intermediate portion being further removed from the fulcrum of the lever, printing dies arranged in said member and a spring for normally holding the member in such position that the printing dies are elevated, and means on the lever engaging said cam surface.

3. A tape marking device comprising a casing having an aperture therein, a tape adapted to be fed past said aperture, a platen over which the tape passes at the aperture, a perforating device facing the platen, a key holder also facing the platen, a removable key to fit said holder and provided with identifying characters, and means for moving the key and perforator on the one hand relatively to the platen on the other hand to simultaneously perforate and mark the intermediate tape.

-l. A tape marking device comprising a casing having an aperture therein, a tape adapted to be fed past said aperture, a platen over which the tape passes at the aperture, a perforating device facing the platen, a key holder also facing the platen, a removable key to fit said holder and provided with identifying characters, and means for moving the key and perforator on the one hand relatively to the platen on the other hand always a given distance to simultaneously perforate and mark the i11- termediate tape.

5. A. tape marking device comprising a casing having an aperture therein, a tape adapted to be fed past said aperture, a platen over which the tape passes at the aperture, a perforating device facing the platen, a key holder also facing the platen, a removable key to fit said holder and provided with identifying characters, and means for moving the key and perforator on the one hand relatively to the platen on the other hand always under a given pres sure to simultaneously perforate and mark the intermediate tape.

6. The combination with a casing of a tape adapted to be fed therein, a platen past which said tape is fed, a perforator facing the platen on the opposite side of said tape, a key holder also facing the platen and provided with a removable key, the latter having identifying characters, and means for moving the key and key holder and perforator relatively to the platen to simulta neously perforate and mark the intermediate tape.

7. A tape stamping device comprising a ribbon, dies mounted above the printing surface and means operated by movement of a lever in either direction adapted to advance and retract the dies.

8. The combination with a casing of a tape adapted to be fed past an aperture in said casing, a pei'i orator facing said tape, a printing device also facing the same, and means for actuating the perforator and printing device, the means acting to print on the exterior of said tape Where exposed through the aperture, said aperture being of suflicient size to permit the operative to apply to the tape additional identification marks.

9. A tape marking device comprising a casing having an aperture therein, a tape adapted to be fed past said aperture, a platen over which the tape passes at the aperture, a member pivoted to said casing having rovision for receiving a key provided with identifying characters, a perforator blade, means connecting said member to said blade, said member having a cam like depression and elevation, a handle pivotally connected to said casing and having a follower element adapted to ride over said cam elevation and impart a predetermined movement to said member against the resistance of said spring to produce an imprint and mark on the tape.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 18th day of February, 1912.

JOHN T. QUIGLEY.

In presence of H. G. PRos'r, R. HEFFERNAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

